Machine for cutting chaff.



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MACHlNE FOR CUTlNG CHAFF.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 14., B918.

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L. NAZ.

MACHINE FOR CUTTINGEHAFF.

APPLICATION FILED 1mm. 1918.

Patented Nov. 5, 19W.

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To all whom t may concern."

fBe itlrnown that l, LAURA AMINTADIAZ, a vcitizen of theRepuhlio of Cuba, and a resident of Camajuani, nProvince of Santa Glara, Republic .of Cuba, have invented cer-` tainnew and useful improvements in lidachines for Cutting Chaff, of which thetollowing is afull, clear, and exact specication.

[This invention relates to rmachines `for cutting or zchoppinglthe dry leaves or chad' otsugar cane, iwhichleaves or chaii are removed from the plant `during its i cutting operation` at the .time of harvesting it.

N"lln the cultivation of sugar cane, machines are iised to mix `uptheadryleaves or ehaiiE with` theearth in. order to `utilize the fertilizinglqualities.otthelleaves orchail, for inakl wiachfenpose the Canine ing said mixture, `it is necessaryto cut or chop the. leaves in fv small pieces. uThis operation isldiiiicultito perform-due tothe length of theileavesand their very -flexible condition which have been used ,upfto ,now l, torsaid end.

With the ohjeet `oit cutting the `leaves dierent machines ,and gdeviees` have been ini/'ernteol` and experimented with without ohtaining the convenient effects desired.

l lanphjeet ,ot my ginventionlisto provide a simplemachine whichisof solid construction andqoi'easy.manipulation and edective operation. 'llhiszmachine h rst will `form a pile of the rdryleavesor ,chailf scattered on the ground, .then `will raise `the ehai from said pileand then wilLcut same in small pieces adapted tothe use to which they are designated. n p `npther obj ect -`ofthe invention `is to provide `the necessary means for raising and lowering the members that pile the chad, so as `toadapt them to the `unevenness of the ,ground on which the machine is to he operated i further object of the invention is to provide proper means` for billing `or mixing the chaff with the earth, ,after the chadl ,has beencut. v

`And -still a further l`object `is to'ohtain the iproper adjustment ot the piling and hilling means, as well as of the wheels of the machine, so as "to` adapt it tolaborpn grounds wheresthe urrows are at a larger or smaller distance loetween them, sep- `1peltziiieaftion of Letters Eatent.

arating saidmeans and wheels according to the distance between'two adjacentfun"` rows. With this and `otherohjects inlview the invention `consists inthe novel-and orlginal will be described, and eomprisesthecomustahle members "for i piling chine.

Figlis a perspective view df the steering device of the machine.` The machine comprises ahed or frame il,

properly supported on two tread wheels disposed laterally and towardthe rear part construction and arrangements of parts'that chaff, members for raising Figure l is a side elevation otthe `mais an upper. plan viewgthereef; and

`lltatentedNov.. 5, iwld, Application liled January la, 1913. Serial No. 211,318. i I

thereof, and asteering wheel "3 arranged` at vthe `front and approximatelytoward the central partof the machinel p l A The `tread wheels 2 are adjustablv mounted on a cross shaft g4 which rotates onbearings fixed beneaththehedl, at veaeh'side i" thereof, so as to `adapt `said `wheels h v separating on `the shaft. `to `the different distances between `the `furrows on `the `ground to which eiiect thehub 6 of each wheel is provided with a set sci ewfr'wvhereby `it can he secured tothe shaitin the desiredposi tion.

"The steering wheel 8 `is mounted on a shaft 10 supported in a vertical forlrS the stem of which is adapted to ffreely rotate nda bracket 9 iixedtothe lower faceofthe The movementot saidwhel 3 toward the left Iorrijght isleii'ected by the operatorfrom the seat "lipby nected tothe upper end of the vertical har 13 which rotatesgwithin two' hollow supports 14C and 15 respectivelvfixed ahove `and helow the hed, said `har 13 `-`being provided at means of aly-wheel 12 con! its lower end with a `worin-gear 16 meshing with a. gear wheel 17 iixed von ashort verticalshatt .18 `which is supported at its ends in two lugs 19 and 20 laterally projecting from 'the `lower hollow support l5. The

shaft 18 is extended beyond the lower lug 20, and on this extension there is' adjustably mounted an arm 21 which is pivotally connected at its end to the central portion of a horizontal traverse bai` 22, whose ends in turn are pivotally connected to the ends of two horizontal longitudinal bars 23 and 24 verse shaft 53, on which are adjustably supported a plurality of circular saws 54, spaced apart on said shaft. Each saw 54 corresponds with the Space intermediating two adjacent reel wheels as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This construction is so arranged in order that each saw 54 may cut each of these bars having at its other end 7Vvthechaii' while it is held on two adjacent reel slot 29 through which is pivotally connected by means of a pin 25 or 26 a trunnion 27 or 28 projecting from each side of fork 8.

vT he traveling movement of the machine is effected by a convenient motor 30 arranged onthe bed 1 and which actuates the tread wheel 2, by` means of a sprocket wheel 31 fixed to the driving shaft 'if the motor and connected by a chain 32 to a sprocket wheel 33 fixed on a shaft 34 rotatorily mounted in bearingsl supported on upright posts 35 secured tothe bed 1, and on said shaft 34 there is secured another sprocket-wheel 36 connected by a chain 37 with a sprocket-wheel 38 ixedl to shaft 4 of tread wheels 2.

Atthe front of the machine there is provided the mechanism for piling, raisino from the ground and cutting the cha This mechanism comprises piling members formed by a plurality of curved bars 39, vertically arranged and pivotally supported at 40 on the'vfork shape end of horizontal arms 41 adjustably mounted on a cross-bar 42 which is transversally supported underneath the bed 1 of the machine, said arms 41 being properly spaced apart on said bar 42 and secured thereon by means of a set screw 43, Fig. 2.. These bars 39 so mounted constitute a rake which carries the chaff and piles same in front of it. a a

Y Tmmediately in front of this rake there is a plurality of reel wheels fixed on a cross- .shaft 44 rotatorily mounted on brackets 45 secured to the bed 1, said wheels being formed by hubs 46 wherefrom and in a substantially tangential direction projects a plurality of arms 48, whose free ends are angled to form arched hooks 47, as shown in Fig. 1. These reel wheels are spaced apart on said shaft 44 so as to correspond withthe spaces intermediating the bars 39 that form therake, and have a rotatory movement in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 1, which movement is trans-v mitted from the shaft 34 by means of a belt 50 and pulleys 49 and 51 respectively fixed to shaft 34 and shaft 44 which supports the reel wheels. The hooks 47 forming said reel wheels extend approximately to a height l from the ground which is substantially equal to the height ,ofV the shaft 4 of the tread wheels2, so that they may work on the groundv while the sugar cane is somewhat grown, without injuring the sprouts.

Near the reel wheels and before them, there is revolubly mounted on bearings 52 secured at each side ofthe bed 1, a transwheels thereby providing the chaff with the required resistance so that the cutting action be properly effected by saw 54. Thus for instance, and referring to Fig. 2, it will be observed that the saw indicated with the letter A is placed between the reel-wheels B and C, the one indicated with letter D between the wheels C and E and it will be understood that the reel-wheels B and C hold the chaff on themselves to be cut by saw A; the wheels C and E hold the chaffl so as to be cut by saw D, and so on; obviating in this manner the inconveniences derived from the flexibility inherent to dry leaves which will be opposed to the cutting action of any cutting implement, whether same be provided with saw teeth as in the present case, or whether it should only have a cutting edge.

These saws 54 have a rotary movement in the direction shown by the arrow on Fig. 1, which movement is transmitted to said saws from the shaft 34 by means of a belt 56 and pulleys 55 and 57 respectively fixed to shaft 34 and to shaft53 of the saws, the pulley 55 being of a much larger diameter than that of the pulley 57, with the aim of multiplying the revolutions of the circular saws to aid the cutting of the chaff.

At the rear of the bed 1 are supported plows 58 which can be of any well known type and are designed to hill the chaff after it has been cut, by mixing same with the earth.

These plows 58 are supported from the bed 1 in a manner by which they can be completely raised or lowered to more or less depth in the ground, to which effect the operator on seat 59 actuates a lever 60 pivoted at 61 on a bracket 62 secured to the bed or frame 1 of the machine. To said lever 60 there is pivotally connected a link 63 which is articulated to a crank 64 fixed to a bar 65 transversely arranged and pivotally mounted on bearings 65 secured to bed 1 there being fixed to each end of said bar 65 a double arm 66 to whose ends are fixed the inclined bars 67 forming the structure carrying the plow 58. As it can be seen, by means of this device the plows can be raised or lowered according to the requirements of the work, and they will be adjusted in position by the catch 68 slidably mounted on lever 60 and which engages with the geared segment 69 secured to the bed 1.

The curved bars 39 forming the rake, are normally held in a vertical position by their proper weight against the tension of springs 70 connecting the upper extension 71 oit' each bar 39 above the point 40 to an eye-bolt 72 Xed on bar 42. In this manner, each bar 39 works freely and independently of the others, whereby, if any obstruction arises such as for instance a raise on the ground, a stone, or an excessive accumulation oi chad', a bar 39 will yield back and incline itself backward so as to pass over such obstruction, and as soon as such obstruction passes the bar 39 will return immediately to its normal position.

rlhe machine is also provided with the necessary means for raising or lowering the whole of the rake when the vunevenness on the ground shall require it. F or this, the

bar 42 is supported at its ends on plates 73 which are vertically guided in hollow supports 74 fixed to each side of the bed l. These plates 73 together with the bar 42 and all the other members comprising the rake can be raised or lowered more or less by the operator from seat l1 by means of a crank lever 75 fulcrumed at 76 on a bracket 77 and connected by a link 78 to an arm 79 fixed to a cross bar 80 rotatorily mounted on brackets 8l secured to the bottom of the bed, there being also fixed on said bar two horizontal arms 82 which are connected by a link83 to bar 42, the crank lever 75 being adjusted in the desired position by the catch 84 engaging with a geared segment 85 which is properly fixed on the bed l.

lln operating the machine, thc bars 39 forming a rake will gather and pile in front thereof the chaff which is scattered on the ground, and the forks 47 of reel wheels 48 will raise the chaff piled by said bars 39, while the circular saws 54 will cut it.

It is obvious that changes and modifications can be made in the invention without altering its spirit, wherefor ll desire not to be limited to what I havel described and rep resented in the drawings, this being merely to illustrate the invention, but it should be understood that l". desire to protect what is within the scope of the appended claims.

What l claim is:

1. A machine for cutting chad, comprising in combination, a trame mounted on wheels, adjustable members for piling the chaii?, rotary members for raising same after it has been piled, rotary members for cutting same in small pieces, adjustable means for billing or mixing it with the earth after it has been cut, and means for rotating the rotary members.

2. A machine for cutting chad comprising in combination, a frame mounted on wheels, adjustable members comprising a rake for piling the chail", rotary members comprising reel-wheels for raising the chaii after it has been piled, rotatable circular saws for outting the chaff in small pieces, plows to hill the chad or mix same with the earth after it has been cut, and means for rotating the reel wheels and the saws.

3. A machine for cutting chaii", comprising in combination a frame mounted on wheels, a rake member for piling the chad, rotary members before the rakeA member for raising the chaff, rotary members before and above the raising members Ifor cutting it in small pieces, and driving means for rotating the rotary cutting and raising members.

4. ln a machine for cutting chad, in combination a rake for piling the chaii scattered on the ground, a plurality of reel-wheels immediately in front of the `rake for elevating the chad' piled by the latter, a plurality of rotary saws arranged in the spaces intermediating the reel-wheels for cutting the chaii" raised and held by the same, billing members for mixing the @haftn with the ground after it has been cut, driving means for rotating the reel-wheels and the saws, adjustable means for raising or lowering the rake according to the unevenness of the ground on which it is working, and adjustable means for raising or lowering the hilling members according to the requirements of the labor. i

ln testimony whereof ll ax my signature.

LAURA All/llN'llA DIAZ.

Qopies or this patent may be obtained for ve cents cach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente. Washington, D. GJ" 

